Test tube shipping container



United States Patent Ofiice 3,306,513- Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,306,513TEST TUBE SHIPPING CONTAINER Sherman S. Fishrnan, PO. Box 321, SanFrancisco, Calif. 94101 Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,676 1 Claim.(Cl. 229-15) This invention relates to shipping containers, particularlyto shipping containers that are suited for technical glassware such astest tubes. Frequently research activities require shipping test tubesgreat distances to obtain specimens of bacteria, viruses and the like.These materials are often pathogenic to man and animal. When thesespecimens are returned to the laboratory any breakage will result in alost specimen and possibly a hazardous contamination. There is a needfor a rugged shipping container, a package that is so versatile that itcan contain a few or many test tubes without additional excelsior tofill any vacant space.

With the advent of honeycomb packaging materials it became apparent thatsuch a compact shipping container was feasible. Accordingly, it is anobjective of this invention to provide a test tube shipping containerthat will be rugged, compact, contain few or many tubes, be easilyopened and closed and have slight risk of damage to its contents duringshipment.

Additionally, it is a further objective of this invention to provide ashipping container wherein the honeycomb portion is removable andbecomes a test tube holder which can be placed directly on the shelf ofa freezer.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, especially whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container and its interior.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of the container taken generallyalong lines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2' but with theinterior packing material expanded.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the expanded packaging material taken generallyalong the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing in which like characters are likeparts, FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective the container assembly which iscomposed of a bottom 17, side walls 12, 13, 14 and 16 and tops 18a, 18b,18c, 18d, which taken together constitute the carton 11, generally madeof corrugated cardboard, styrenes and the like. The interior has a shockresistant false bottom 19 being made of a resilient material selectedfrom rubberized felts, urethane foams, loose wads of pellon and thelike. A section of honeycomb 20 to fit between the walls 13 and 14, andbeing fixedly attached on the surface 22 of the wall 12 and having arigid outer wall 35; the honeycomb 20 has attached on its bottom fixededge a pleated accordion-like bottom 21 which is made of an expandablematerial such as honeycomb cardboard, latex coated paper, and the like.An adhesive backed tab 21a is attached to the outer end of the honeycombsection 20; another adhesive strip tab 23 is attached along the verticaledge of the honeycomb 20 and adjacent to the side walls 13 and 14; theadhesive strip 23 has a wax paper 26 Which covers the adhesive surfaceand will be stripped away to expose the adhesive when the honeycomb isexpanded, thereby when applied to the side walls 13 and 14 the tab 23will serve to anchor the honeycomb to whatever extent it has beenexpanded. The amount of expansion will depend upon the number of testtubes to be inserted in it. The honeycomb 20 may be expanded to exposeonly a few cells or many. In FIG. 2 the attach ment site 21b of thepleated bottom 21 against the surface of the wall 12 is seen moreclearly. The honeycomb 20 is shown in its contracted state with no testtubes stored in it and the tab 23 is unattached and its adhesive surfaceis protected by a wax paper 26. In FIG. 3 we see the honeycomb 20partially expanded and storing test tubes 30, the tab 23 is afiixed tothe wall 13, the bottom 21 has partially expanded with the honeycomb 20.In FIG. 4 we see the honeycomb 20 and its attachment 22 to the wall 12;several test tubes 30 are stored in the honeycomb cells; the tab 23 isattached to the wall 13 by the adhesive surface area 24.

This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herebut is intended to encompass other modifications apparent to thoseskilled in the art and in keeping within the scope of the followingclaim.

I claim:

A shipping container composed of a bottom, four upright walls, a top, afalse bottom, a honeycomb section, a pleated 'bottom for the honeycombwith adhesive on each end, adhesive strips partially covered with waxpaper; said bottom being attached to said upright walls, said uprightwalls having tops attached forming an enclosure; said false bottomloosely applied onto said enclosure bottom; said pleated bottom beingattached at one end to an upright wall of said enclosure, its other endbeing attached to the outer bottom edge of said honeycomb; saidhoneycomb being attached to the same said upright wall; said adhesivestrips being attached in part onto the outer surface of said honeycomband adjacent to each upright wall which is in relation to the said wallto which aid honeycomb is attached; said bottom, walls and tops beingmade from a material selected from corrugated cardboard, styrenes andthe like; said false 'bottom being made of a resilient material selectedfrom rubberized felts, urethane foams, pellon and the like; saidhoneycomb being made of cardboard, chemically coated paper, metallicfoils and the like; said pleated bottom being made from a selection ofmaterials such as cardboard, latex coated paper and the like.

Feb. 28, 1967 s. s. FISHMAN TEST TUBE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 24,1965 Z/ I/// A

